Judge Schedules Preliminary Hearing, Orders Competency Screening for Homicide Defendant

Thank you for reading D.C. Witness. Help us continue our mission into 2024.

A DC Superior Court judge scheduled a hearing to determine if a murder case has enough evidence to go to trial.

John Woods is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the death of 60-year-old Geno Freeman. Woods, 66, is accused of shooting Freeman on the 6000 block of Chillum Place, NE on Feb. 19.

During the April 5 hearing, Judge John Campbell granted defense attorney James King’s request to order a screening to determine the defendant’s competency to stand trial.

Judge Campbell also scheduled the preliminary hearing for May 18.

According to a press release, responding officers found Woods with a firearm on the day of the homicide.

“After the suspect ignored multiple commands, an officer discharged their firearm striking the suspect,” the press release states. He was then taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

According to court documents, Freeman was Woods’ former co-worker, and a witness said the two did not get along well. Woods reportedly alleges that Freeman put something in his food that caused him to develop health problems.